A well-performing Biddulph business has been granted permission to expand onto a vacant plot of land at Victoria Business Park.

Haulage company MF Tyler transport applied to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to expand onto the unused plots 12-15 at the business park, which is currently an area of undeveloped scrubland.

The business is based on an adjacent plot in the business park, but hoped to develop the nearby unused area to create more storage and parking space for their lorries.

The plots are currently owned by the district council, but the business - who have been based at the business park after relocating from Burslem around three years ago - are very close to finalising a deal with the council to buy the land.

The application was discussed at a meeting of the district council's Planning Committee yesterday (Thursday).

District council planning officer Ben Haywood said: "It's the last plot on the business park to be developed, and it's in council ownership.

"The business has done well over the last few years and is expanding, so they require additional space to provide more parking and storage for their HGVs."

The land will be developed to create three separate tiers on which the business can keep its HGVs.

Biddulph town and district Cllr Jim Davies felt the site was "ideal", saying: "I think it's an ideal use for this site. Three landscaped tiers to park lorries is the perfect use for this site."

Previously, planning permission was granted in 2018 to provide a new compound and depot for Chell Building Supplies on the site, but the business lost interest as the site's mining history meant the land would have been unsuitable for buildings.

Cllr Keith Flunder added: "I have walked around this area on numerous occasions, and anything to get this area working for the benefit of jobs would be beneficial for the residents of Biddulph.

"I would ask them to make sure that if there is any runoff from the site, that it is drained well away from the Biddulph Valley Way, which is nearby."

Councillors then voted in favour of the application, granting planning permission for the development.

If you would like to watch the meeting in full, visit the council's website here.